Channel Hopping

As we eagerly await our freedom to travel again, why not use the time to plan your next Channel-hopping adventure? Felix Rowe looks at a selection of classic and less-known routes

- Felix Rowe

For thousands of years, a thin strip of water has helped define our identity – a physical and symbolic barrier separating the British mainland from the continent: the English Channel, or La Manche (the sleeve) to our European neighbours.

A mere 18 nautical miles separate the Kent coast at South Foreland from the Cap Gris Nez, and on a clear day those famous chalky white cliffs are easily visible from the continent. Julius Caesar certainly couldn’t resist the temptation, landing just around the coast at Pegwell Bay on the Isle of Thanet. Today, it’s the ideal playground for cruising sailors enjoying more leisurely pursuits.

We’re all familiar with the ubiquitous Dover-Calais, the shortest port-to-port crossing. Yet the Dover Strait bottleneck is also the busiest shipping lane on the globe. So, unless you want to spend the entire duration of your brief journey dodging ferries, freighters and adventurous swimmers on the ‘maritime M25’, there are many other passages to consider.

The French side is characterised by significant tidal currents and range. It’s also dotted with rocky plateaus and reefs. Submerged hazards lurking at high tide require good attention to detail. Seasoned sailors will be familiar with Les Casquets west of Alderney, the Plateau des Minquiers further down the bay between Jersey and St Malo, and the off-lying rocks and narrow navigable channels of the North Brittany coast.

Although well buoyed and charted, things can happen quickly in strong tides, giving less time to react than you might be used to. It makes for a thrilling passage, but you certainly need to have your wits about you!

Preparation